Students' experiences of school suspension

Area of Science:

• * Education and Health
• * Adolescent Psychology
• * Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• * School inclusion and academic attainment are crucial social determinants of health.
• * Students suspended from school risk disengagement, losing benefits of social inclusion and academic achievement.
• * This study explored the experiences of adolescents previously subjected to school suspension.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the lived experiences of adolescents who have undergone school suspension.
• * To understand students' perceptions of the suspension process and its aftermath.
• * To identify the impact of suspension on social inclusion and academic attainment.

Main Methods:

• * A questionnaire was administered to 74 previously suspended adolescents across five schools in Victoria, Australia.
• * Participants reported their understanding of suspension procedures.
• * Students described their activities and social interactions during suspension and their perceptions of reintegration into school.

Main Results:

• * Few suspended students received adult supervision; most engaged in leisure activities.
• * Post-suspension, students reported reduced teacher support and that suspension failed to address underlying behavioral issues.
• * Students perceived a stigma upon returning to school, weakening their connection to the educational environment.

Conclusions:

• * School suspension provides temporary relief but minimal student benefit, potentially fostering antisocial peer networks.
• * Suspension negatively impacts disadvantaged students by removing pro-social influences and exacerbating social determinants of health.
• * Interventions maintaining school relationships are recommended; if suspension is necessary, adult supervision and formal reintegration are crucial for social inclusion and academic attainment.